As far back as you can remember, you were hauling shit from point A to point B in some combo of practical meets against-the-grain. Your accessories an extension of you – never wanting to fit in… not exactly wanting to stand out. Game appreciates game from go, you always enjoyed a nod to your taste from other folks who, like you, know that style wins over trend. Always.
Throwaway trends were never for you. You do timeless with a twist, just like your martini. Cuz bonafide craftsmanship is style. In every one of your lives lived – from a thrifted treasure, to a vintage store score, to an army surplus carry all – your trained eye honed in on bags that were built to last.
I guess nobody ever told you, all you gotta hold on to is you.
When you heard Erykah Badu croon those words in Bag Lady, it was more than a vibe to you; it was a cautionary fable and a personal manifesto you took to heart. But also….you being you….with style.
We remember when a bag wasn’t just an accessory—it was your whole era. Back in the day, your bag held your world: Walkman, smokes, a pager, keys to your first apartment, maybe even your first protest pin. Military rucksack, canvas tote, vintage leather flight bag….. it said something before you did.
Then and as ever, fashion isn’t just what you wear, it’s what you carry. Your beliefs, your grit, your wonder, and a healthy dose of wisdom, always.
You were never an IT Bag girlie. Always the IT girl, what you carried was a reflection of you.
You need pieces that adapt. From the after-hours club to the after-hours side hustle, to band practice and the late night tasting menu with your flavour of the month.
Toting your needs and wants and essentials require vessels as vital as the contents.
REGALO X R2R
When we discovered R2R (Rags2Riches), a company that understands the mix of form, function, and feeling, we knew it wasn’t just a collab—it was a reunion.
Like Regalo Studios, R2R are pioneers in the field of eco-ethical fashion and accessory design. Since 2007, R2R has carved a space for themselves as leaders in creating both sustainable products and opportunities for Filipino urban artisans using upcycled and overstocked fabric, locally sourced materials, and indigenous weaves.
Of the collab, R2R’s President and Co-Founder Reese Fernandez-Ruiz vibed: “In terms of advocacy, our values are very aligned…that was a non-negotiable I think for both brands”. Fernandez-Ruiz was excited about the possibilities for the two brands, particularly in discovering how Regalo and R2R could combine different, yet intersecting, aesthetics. Regalo Studio’s Founder and Creative Director Caroline Mangosing and Fernandez-Ruiz found inspiration in both the materials and the dedication to sustainable and artisanal craftsmanship.
I HEART BAG - THE PUSO
The love child of this collab is the Puso collection —Puso literally meaning heart in the Philippines. “It’s a really elegant product inspired by a rice delicacy in the Philippines”, says Fernandez-Ruiz. The rice cake, also known as ‘hanging rice’, is made by boiling rice in a woven pouch of palm leaves – the puso.
The Puso is pyramid-shaped when fully closed, and has multiple carry variations for all your different uses. For Mangosing, she’s always loved this R2R piece. She added an interior gusset to the existing design (with magnetic snap), creating a new configuration to the purse. It can be worn flattened out like a traditional hand bag and also cross-body with the longer strap (included).
And because your heart’s wants and needs vary depending on what life you’re living on any given day, we got a PUSO for every version of you:
Mini Puso Pouchette: The most compact of the collection, for your day to night essentials. Featuring basket-weaved genuine cow leather. Available in Regalo Red, Sky Blue and Black.
Medium Puso Pouchette: The everyday can’t-leave-home-without bag. Sophisticated and chic, constructed with both genuine cow leather and handloomed Binakol panels. Available in taupe leather with goldenrod and periwinkle binakol.
Large Puso Pouchette: The workhorse essential for the mavens whose everyday carry is never the same from day to day. Constructed with both genuine cow leather and handloomed Binakol panels. Available in black leather and charcoal binakol.
Each PUSO is more than a purse, it’s a heart on your sleeve. A carryall crafted with intentionality that holds meaning and your entire day. This isn’t just a cute add-on. It’s the full look. The full story. And the kind of bag you hand down—just like wisdom, red lipstick, and Erykah Badu on vinyl.
